Adjustable profile chimney



sept. 27, 1966 W, M MASSEY ETAL 3,274,644

ADJUSTABLE PROFILE CHIMNEY Filed April 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY@wv-CA( ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1966 wI M, MASSEY ET AL 3,274,644

ADJUSTABLE PROFILE CHIMNEY Filed April 27, 1964 sheets-sheet s il j? :nmo o g5 a n o o J\ oo o j woo 00 O 1 go (NUC) x' .i

` INVENTORS MLU/9M Moopf Mme-@E5 B/LJ. JCU/2E,

BY f.

ATT RNEY United States Patent O 3,274,644 ADJUSTABLE PRFILE CHIMNEYWilliam Moore Massey, Signal Mountain, and Bill L.

Pope, l-lixson, Tenn., assigncrs to E. l. du Pont de Nemours andCompany, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 27,1964, Ser. No. 362,908

4 Claims. (Cl. IS-S) This invention relates to the melt spinning ofsynthetic filaments from polymeric materials. More particularly, itrelates to an improved apparatus for quenching molten filaments in whichvarious conditions of flo-w of the cool- 4ing fluid may be establishedfor efficient contact with the moving filaments.

In the melt spinning of filamentary materials of polymeric nature suchas polyhexamethylene adipamide and the like, the molten polymericmaterial is extruded through a spinneret into a Zone where it isquenched by a flow of gaseous medi-um. One type of apparatus for thispurpose is described in Heckert U.S. 2,273,15 to Du Pont in which thequenching medium is directed from a plenum chamber transversely acrossthe path of the molten filament in a quenching zone. Scheers, U.S.2,847,704 discloses a tubular quenching apparatus in which the quenchingmedium flows upwardly and counter to the descent of molten filaments.Babcock, U.S. 2,252,684, reveals a quenching apparatus which is alsotubular, but the coolant is admitted near the spinneret and travels downthe vertical tube cocurrently with the freshly spun descendingfilaments. Various modifications and refinements of quench-ing apparatushave been devised; but, in each instance, quenching is limited to one ofthe three above conditions: crossflow, counter-current or cocurrent.Adjustment may be made in the total volume or velocity of quenchingmedium, but a change in the flow pattern of the quenching medium withrespect to the threadline may only 4be made by a complete replacement ofthe major components of the quenching apparatus. Such replacement istime-consuming and costly when one wishes to change the composition,size, cross-section or other property of the filaments being produced ona melt spinning machine and a change in the flow `of the quenchingmedium is required to accommodate the new conditions.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a-n improved apparatusfor use in melt spinning of synthetic fibers. Another object is t-oprovide accurate control of the entry and discharge of a cooling mediuminto and out of a quenchnig chamber. It is also an object of thisinvention, to provide an improved quenching chamber in which thedirection and velocity of flow of the cooling medium m-ay be adjusted atwill. A further object is to provide a wide range of quenchingconditions to permit the melt spinning of a variety of filamentousmaterials. Another objeot is to provide a convenient means for makingadjustment to obtain the desired flow of cooling medium in the quenchingchamber. These and other objects will .become apparent in the course ofthe following descrip- `tion and claims.

According to the present invention, an improved quenching system isprovided which comprises first of all an oblong air-supply duct ormanifol extending length- Wise beside a bank of lined-up spinnerets.Along the upper wall of said manifold `are spaced a plurality of plenumchambers each of which extends lengthwise sufficiently to face aconvenient plurality of said spinnerets. Each plenum receives a supplyof .air (or other convenient gaseous cooling medium) through one or morerestricted openings in the top of said duct, referred to hereinbelow asrestrictorsf Along the vertical wall of each plenum on the outside areattached a plurality of quenching chambers or chimneys corresponding tothe number of spin- ICC nerets desired to serve from said plenum (onthat side). Each chimney comprises vertical Walls and a top and a bottomprovided with suitable openings so that the bundle of filaments extrudedfrom one spinneret can move downwards into and out of the chimney spacewit-hout touching its walls. `On the vertical wal-l portion which eachchimney shares with its plenium is an inlet panel for passing gaseouscooling medium from the plenum into the quenching chamber. On the wallopposite the inlet panel is an outlet panel for the gaseous medium.

Now, as a particular feature of this invention, said inlet panel andoutlet panel of each quenching chimney are made up of a plurality ofadjacent, horizontally disposed sections and each of said sectionscontains means for individually setting it to transmit a stream of saidgaseous fluid of an optional strength, from zero value to the fullstrength of the stream being brought to bear upon said panel, wherebyany and all of the following effects may lbe achieved:

(a) The stream of gaseous fluid passing through any section of saidpanel may be regulated independently of the setting of any of the othersections;

(b) The sum total of gaseous stream passing through said panel at anygiven time may be controlled;

(c) The average location of the total stream passing through each panelwith reference to the height of the quenching chamber may be controlled;and

(d) By selecting ydifferent locations (c) for the stream coming into thechamber through the inlet panel and that going out through the outletpanel, the average direction of the gaseous stream within the quenchingchamber as it contacts said descending plurality of filaments may becontrolled to have essentially a cocurrent, countercurrent or transversecharacter with respect to the descending bundle of filaments.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to thedrawings.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view in partial crosssection of a quenchingchamber and associated supply duct and plenum.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a preferredembodiment of the flow controlling panel used in this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side view, partly in section, of the quenching chamber ofFIGURE 1, and shows, incidentally, one pattern of flow of the quenchinggas through the chamber.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are diagrams of two other patterns of flow of thequenching gas, which m-ay be obtained with the apparatus of thisinvention.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the valves used in the inletpanel of the novel quenching chamber.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the quenching apparatus comprises a supply duct11, a restrictor 12, a plenum lf3, an inlet valve panel 14, a quenchingchamber 15, and an outlet valve panel 16. FIGURE 1 -shows one of amultiplicity of quenching stations .in apparatus for spinning severalyarns simultaneously. The quenching medium is supplied to duct 11, froma conventional pressure `distribution system, not shown, throughopenings regulated by damper 17. Restrictor 12 is positioned in anopening in a common wall 18 between lsupply duct -11 and plenum 13.Valve panel 1-4 is located in an opening of suitable size and shape l19in each side Iwall 20 of plenum 13. The `quenching chamber or chimney1'5 is enclosed by said vertical inlet valve panel 14, outlet valvepanel 16, two imperforate side walls 21 and top and bottom walls v26 andI27 (shown on the left side of FIG. 1). The side -walls 21 and outletpanel 16 are generally hinged and latched or detachably mounted onplenum wall 20 -to provide ready access to t-he threadline forconvenient assembly and servicing of the apparatus.

It will be understood th-at supply duct 11 can be, and generally will bemade long enough to serve a long bank of spinning positions, and maytherefore have a plurality of dampers 17 along its length. YThe plenums13 are generally shorter than the d-uct and there will therefore be aplurality of lthem lengthwise of the duct, adjacent plenums beingseparated by vert-ical partitions (not shown in FIG. 1). Each plenumWill support a plurality of quenching chimneys (say 2 to 8 on eachside), and Will in t-urn be served by at least one, and possibly two tofour restrictors 12.

Furthermore, in practice a single oblong air duct may be constructed toserve two banks of aligned spinnerets, one bank on each side of thed-uct. In such event, the details shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawingsapply .also to the structure on the left side of the duct, except thatthey are reversed, in mirror image fashion, with respect to the detailsshown for the right side. I

The liow of air through the entire system is. best understood bystudying FIGS. 1 and 3 jointly. The quench-ing medium, usually air, issupplied .under positive pressure to duct 11. Duct 11 senves as anante-chamber, minimizing the kinetic energy influence in the totalsupply of fluid to the quenching apparatus. The static pressure alongthe length of duct 11 is equalized by adjusting each damper 17 toproperly balance the system according to measurement of press-ure underflow conditions with manometers, gauges, flow meters or other deviceswell known in the fluid flow art. The quenching fluid flows from supplyduct 11 to plenum 13 through restrictor 12. The restrictor serves twoimportant functions in a minimum of space, metering and diffusing of thequenching fluid into the plenum which in turn serves as a supply for theindividual quenching chambers. The fluid flows from plenum 13 throughthe valve openings in valve pane-l 14 and a foraminous sheet 22 intoquenching chamber 15. After passage through the quenching chamber, thefiuid discharges through the open valves in p-anel 16 into theatmosphere surrounding the spinning apparatus. \In this diagram,freshly-spun filaments 26 are shown entering the top of the quenchingchamber 1'5 from a sp-inneret 24, descending to a convergence guide 25,and pass-ing downwardly through a sui-table opening to the windup ornext -stage in fiber processlng.

The restrictor .12 is a hollow, perforated cylindrical body. A circularcross-section is shown, but other forms such as elliptical,rectangular-or polygonal serve equally well. `Multiple orificesperforate the walls in the entrance or upstream region of therestrictor. Preferably, these orifices are of equal size, approximately1/2 to 1% inch (13 to 19 mm.) diameter being suitable dimensions. Thenumber of oriiices is selected to provide a pressure difierential ,formaximum iiow in the range of 3 inches to 4 inches water gauge (0.0075 to0.010 atmosphere). This pressure drop is suicient to minimize the effectof the approach velocity at maximum liow and to provide a measurableresistance at low iiows, say 50% of maximum. In an installation ofseveral quenching stations, each restrictor is .calibrated to a standardflow by measurement of liow res-istance with conventional manometers toassure uniformity of (dow and to permit interchangeability. The airexits from the restrictor through multiple perforations in a diffusedpattern at a velocity not exceeding 1,000 ft. per minute (305 meters perminute) to minimize turbulencein the plenum chamber and eliminate strayhigh-velocity currents which would upset flow to the quenching chambers.

The flow of lair into the quenching chamber is regulated by valve panel14. This novel apparatus, .shown in perspective in FIGUIRE 2, comprisesa cellular assembly in which each compartment is of like size and shape.In the plane of the vertical upstream wall, each compartment has aninlet opening 30, fitted with a flow-regulating Valve 32. On thedownstream ends, the compartments terminate in a vertical foraminoussheet 22. The over-all size of the valve panel and the number of cellsinthe panel may be varied according to the size of the quenching chamberto be supplied and the desired flow patterns. The particular embodimentshown in FIG. 2 is rectangular in form, planar Wall 33 being the inletwall, flat walls 34 and 35 (shown cut away) being side walls, andshelves 36 serving as partitions between cells. The cells may readilytake other geometric forms such as cylindrical, conical, hemispherical,parabolic and others, although this may increase the fabrication cost.

A simple valve means 32 is shown in FIG. 6. It is a manually-operatedpush-pull device, comprising a plug 3-'7 with a metering orifice 318 andcap 39 connected by spaced staves 32-1, fitted in opening 30 in theupstream inlet wall 313. Air `flow in each horizontal cell is regulatedmanually by positioning the valve in an open or closed position by theaid of handle 39d.

One valve is shown in each cell in FIG. 2, but the number of valves ineach cell may be Varied as desired. In particular, two or three valvesmay be inserted sideby-side in the upstream wall of each horizon-talcompartment. Each valve contains a metering orifice 38, whose sizedetermines the quantity of flow through said valve when the latter isset in its open position, but the orifices are preferably of differentsizes lin the two or three Valves which serve the same horizontalcompartment. Then, in the case of three valves, for instance, one mayset into the open positions (a) none, (b) a selected one, (c) anydesired combination of two, or (d) all three valves, and thereby producean iniiow of cooling air into any given .compartment of a magnitudevarying by steps overa wide range.

Our invention, however, is not limited to the particular style of valvedescribed above, and in lieu thereof any known valve means may be used,such :as a simple plug, a screw throttling valve, a slideable shutter,an adjustable iris or an electrically operated solenoid, and the like.

The foraminous sheet 22 serves as a diffuser to distribute the quenchinggas evenly from side to side in the quenching chamber. The diffuser maybe designed for individual cells or may be large enough for the entirevalve panel, depending upon the physical size for practical handling andmay be extended into the cells or cover the face of the cells. Thediffusers have a perforated free area of approximately 30 to 50% of thetotal face area. The perforations may be round, rectangular or elongatedslots arranged in a regular or staggered pattern. The perforations maybe as large as 1/s inch (3.2 mm.) in diameter or width. The size andpattern of the holes must satisfy three basic requirements:

(1) The quenching gas from each cell must be evenly distributed acrossthe face of each cell, regardless of the location and number of valves;

(2) The individual openings must be large enough to minimize anytendency to accumulate fine particles of dust or other foreign particleswhich are normally encountered in quenching gas;

(3) The openings must permit passage of the quenching gas withoutjetting and disturbing the filaments being quenched.

Valve panel 16 constitutes one wall of the chimney, at the side oppositeinlet panel 14. A preferred embodiment is a louvered door in whichhorizontal louvers of equal Size are arranged vertically in the paneland each louver may be 'adjusted individually from fully closed to fullyopen positions. The length and width of the panel are defined by thedesired size of the quenching chamber. The size of the louvers isimportant only in that the blades should be relatively narrow, toprovide many selections for the outgoing fiow pattern and to avoidinterference with the threadline or operator functions. Generally, thelouvers should extend the full width of the door and have a verticaldimension of about 1/3 of the door width. The louver blades maybetransparent to permit visual inspection of the threadline duringoperation` Loking means are provided to hold the louvers in the desiredorientation during operation. The entire valve panel is mostconveniently used when hinged along one edge to side wall 21 and latchedin the closing position along the opposite edge with a magnetic or hooklatch, thus providing ready access to the interior of the quenchingchamber.

Equally convenient mechanical alternatives may be used for fabricationof the discharge valve panel such as those described for use in theinlet valve panel. For example, a perforated or slotted sheet withslideable shutters may be used with equal effectiveness.

Any conventional materials of construction may be used for fabricationof the valve panels and associated quenching apparatus. Metals such assteel, aluminum, brass or copper are most commonly used. Valvecomponents, louvers, slides and shutter components may also be made ofdie cast metallic alloys or molded of plastic materials.

The apparatus of this invention permits a wide variety of quenchingconditions to suit the requirements of the fiber being spun. Thus, FIG.4 illustrates a setting of panels 14 and -16 which provides a cross-owof quenching gas in the vertical chimney. All valves in valve panel 14and all louvers in wall 16 are open, thus providing equal flow velocitythroughout the height of the panel. This embodiment has a free and opendischarge of the quenching gas and therefore provides simple transverseow of the gas with respect to the threadline. The velocity pattern ofthe quenching gas through the filament bundle may be altered byappropriate setting of the valves in the valve panel, as may be requiredby the filament being extruded into the chimney. Thus a relatively highvelocity may be obtained in the upper part of the chimney and arelatively low velocity in the lower region, or viceversa.

In FIG. 3, the panels are set to produce a cocurrent liow of thequenching gas. By opening only a few valves in the upper portion ofinlet panel 14 and opening only a few valves in the lower portion ofpanel 16, the quenching gas in the chamber is made to enter at the top,take a downward path parallel to the travel of the lilaments and exit inthe lower region.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a counter-current ow of quenching gas, alsoobtainable with the same apparatus by a simple adjustment. By openingvalves in the lower region of the inlet panel 14 `and opening valves inthe upper portion of outlet panel 16, the quenching gas liows from thebottom upwardly in chimney 1S in a direction opposite filament travel.

The apparatus of this invention has several advantages over spinningapparatus of the prior art:

(l) Precise regulation of the flow of quenching gas can be obtained inmelt-spinning apparat-us.

(2) Many dilerent liow patterns can be obtained in a single apparatus tomeet the requirements of different spinning conditions such as differentiilament deniers, spinning speeds, lament configurations and variouspolymers.

(3) Quenching patterns can be varied for experimentation at a singlequenching station without upsetting quenching conditions in otherquenching stations on a full production machine.

The apparatus of this invention also has potential use for other fluidtreatments of moving ilamentary materials. The treating fluid may beheated or at low temperature, inert or reactive with the iilaments. Alluid mist or a solvent vapor may, for example, be employed to produce asurface effect upon the ilaments. Many other variations in the detailsof this invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with apparatus for cooling textile filaments formed byextruding molten film-forming material through a spinneret, a quenchingchamber comprising essentially vertical inlet and outlet panels forallowing a gaseous cooling medium to pass through said chamber, andmeans for passing the extruded filaments vertically downwards throughsaid chamber, each of said inlet and outlet panels comprising aplurality of adjacent, horizontally disposed sections and each of saidsections containing means for individually regulating the stream of saidgaseous cooling medium passing through said section, whereby both thetotal strength of the gaseous stream going through the quenching chamberand its general direction as it contacts the descending plurality ofilaments may be regulated.

2. A quenching chamber as in claim 1, said outlet panel being made up ofa plurality of adjacent, individually adjustable louvers, supported in acommon frame by means permitting each louver to swing independently on ahorizontal axis.

3. A quenching chamber as in claim -1, said inlet panel being made up ofa plurality of vertically spaced horizontal shelves supported at theends in vertical walls whereby to form a vertical stack of independenthorizontal passages through said panel, and each of said horizontalpassages being closed up on its upstream side except for one or moreopenings containing a valve, said valves being ladapted to be setindependently in one of at least two positions, whereby to control thestrength of total gaseous stream admitted into said inlet panel fortransmission into said quenching chamber.

4. A quenching chamber as in claim 3, said plurality of horizontalpassages being covered up on the downstream side by a foraminous sheetadapted to diffuse the streams of air passing through it.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,541,104 6/1925Briggs et al. 18-8 2,289,860 7/ 1942 Babcock 18-8 XR 3,067,459 12/ 1962Brand 18-8 3,070,839 1/1963 Thompson 18-8 3,108,322 10/1963 Tate 18-8WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH APPARATUS FOR COOLING TEXTILE FILAMENTS FORMED BYEXTRUDING MOLTEN FILM-FORMING MATERIAL THROUGH A SPINNERET, A QUENCHINGCHAMBER COMPRISING ESSENTIALLY VERTICAL INLET AND OUTLET PANELS FORALLOWING A GASEOUS COOLING MEDIUM TO PASS THROUGH SAID CHAMBER, ANDMEANS FOR PASSING THE EXTRUDED FILAMENTS VERTICALLY DOWNWARDS THROUGHSAID CHAMBER, EACH OF SAID INLET AND OUTLET PANELS COMPRISING APLURALITY OF ADJACENT, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED SECTIONS AND EACH OF AIDSECTIONS CONTAIN-